Bullhead Lake
Bullhead Lake in Becker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12.9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 1066.73 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.9 ft
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 1,067 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
- Open water
- 221 days
Next lake in Becker County
Why Bullhead Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Bullhead Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Bullhead Lake is a 1,067-acre lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet (17-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Bullhead Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12.9 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bullhead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bullhead Lake in Becker County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Bullhead Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Average Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,067 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 24.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 58% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Leif LakePublic
- Cormorant Lake (Northeast)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bullhead Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-10 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 53.70 | 0.36 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 29.96 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluegill | 22.57 | 0.19 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 16.23 | 0.53 lb |
| CNM | 10.53 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 8.95 | 0.05 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Brown Bullhead
From the 2025-06-10 survey
Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Little Cormorant Lake on June 10th, 2025, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 91 survey sites evenly spaced 400 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones:…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bullhead Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little CormorantFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little CormorantFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little CormorantPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.9 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (30 observations).
Estimated open water season: 221 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-22 (2012) | 2013-05-10 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2024-12-30 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-05
EPA Impairment Status
Bullhead Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0506-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.23 km)
Graded lakes near Bullhead Lake
Bullhead Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Bullhead Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bullhead Lake?
- Bullhead Lake in Becker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12.9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 1066.73 acres.
Is Bullhead Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Bullhead Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bullhead Lake?
- Bullhead Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet and an average depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 1066.73 acres.
What fish are in Bullhead Lake?
- Fish species found in Bullhead Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Bullhead Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Bullhead Lake thaw?
- Bullhead Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13. Ice typically forms around Nov 20. The open water season is approximately 221 days.
Are there boat ramps on Bullhead Lake?
- Bullhead Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Leif Lake, Cormorant Lake (Northeast). Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Monitoring
MNDA_PESTICIDE1 sample · 2022 - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate